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One of my partners just got back from doing a consult for BHP in Northern OZ. He knows I'm a train buff. Eric told me he had seen this unbelivibly long monster ore train, said it makes ours (USA) look small by comparison. I, and I must be wrong. thought we had the longest trains. My question is to our friends in OZ how long, and how much tonnage do your trains get? What do you use for power and do you keep something that big together? guess whose going next time there is a mining consult. George
Gidday George,No the world record is held by Oz, 96,000 tons and 7 1/4 km long. However, this was not on a public mainline, but a mining railway. The run was made to get the world record. Where I live the trains a limited to 5,000 tons due to grades and couplers. Derek
Yep the long ones are run in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, one of the world's richest iron ore deposits. BHP and Hammersly Iron are two of the operators who run trains there. They typically exceed 20,000 tons. Not only do we have the world record for worlds longest/heaviest train, we also have the world record for worlds longest model train - based on the same prototype! 650 wagons hauled by 4 locomotives over 16 scale km.Anyway. From what I understand, they use Australia's most powerful locomotives, which are 4800hp dash 8's IIRC. They are run in loco-trol formation (spaced throughout the train). They are standard gauge and run on what has to be the best quality track in oz.But they are not main line. After that, Australia's longest trains are run by Queensland Rail, who can run coal trains exceeding 10,000 tons - on 3'6" gauge track!! In New South Wales they reach about 84 wagons maximum (again coal) with 3000 - 4000 hp locomotives. 2km long double stacked container trains run between Adelaide and Perth (with an extra crew car as the run is so isolated that there is nowhere much to change crews mid-route) in the process traversing the world's longest stretch of straight railway track (478km without a curve though its not level). And I couldnt be bothered converting metrics to imperial, so 1 mile = 1.6 km if you want to work it out Generally speaking Aussie trains are restricted to about a mile long by Passing Loop lengths, gradients, and locomotive power/availability. There is such a shortage of locomotives here that 40yo alcos are still a common sight. Above - A Fishtank crossing the Coathangar
>From what I understand, they use Australia's most powerful locomotives, which are 4800hp dash 8's IIRCThe most powerful locomotives in Australia are BHP's AC6000CW's rated at 6000hp.nadnerb1982 has pretty much hit the nail on the head, but I want to go into specifics of locomotives of BHP, Hamersely Iron and Robe RiverBHP: 8 AC6000CW's. Numerous CM40-8M's (I cannot find how much, im guessing around 35) 8 CM40-8M's 4 CM40-8MEFI's (Does anyone know what "EFI" stands for? I have never seen this used anywhere else) 5 SD40's. One Lease for 18 months. Former DM&E. 1 SD40-2T. Former SOUTHERN PACIFIC origin!!! 4 CM30-7M's. Shunting around the Port Headland yards Typical train: 2 locos (AC's or Dash8's), 110 cars, 2 locos, 110 cars. Some times on Yanilgajui line: 2 locos, 110 cars, 2 locos, 110 cars, 2 locos, 110 cars. A total of 6 locos (AC's or Dash8's or a mix) and 330 cars. Hamersley Iron. 32 C44-9WL's (same as CN's Dash9's with the tear drop windshield. K5LA horns) 1 C630 ALCo for shunting around East Intercourse Island and 7 mile. Typical HI train: 2 C44-9WL's. 240 Ore Cars.Pilbara Rail: 4 C44-9WL's. 2 CM30-7's (former BHP) Pilbara and Hamersley Pool thier locos for trains. 2 C44-9WL's and 240 cars are the norm.Robe River x amount of CM40-8M's. (Also, about 30). 4 ALCO Mx630's 2 ALCO C636's 4 Dash8's all upfront. 220 car trains. No locotrol.>Mike Forster< Perth, Western Australiapacificnational_nr103@hotmail.com
hii belive that the ac6000cw of BHP have been detuned down to 5000 to 5200shp deu to high ambiant temp causing conrod(crank to piston part) expanshon and cylinder head probs if i recall, also the road mass of the BHP ac6k is apx 15000lb to 20000lb grater than the usa ones as well at TE and CTE is also more, and thay are gear ratio limeted to 60 or 65mph.b101uk
Now I know where my next trip is going to be, always wanted to go to OZ to go diving on the reef. Sounds like going train chasing could be fun. Thanks for the replyes George
Uh, you can do that, but if you want to see the big trains AND the reef, have a lot of money handy. The Great Barrier Reef is on our East Coast, and the Pilbara region is on our West coast. Thats like going to the USA to see the Empire State Building then going to Tehachapi Pass (oops, I did just that in reverse order in August/September . . .). Train chasing here though is good fun - as long as you have a car handy (driving on the left isnt that hard - honest! I managed to get the hang of driving on the right in about 10 minutes).Anyway come on down, we'd be delighted to see you Above - A Fishtank crossing the Coathangar
I live on the north east coast and a friend drove over to the Pilbara region last year. 4 days and 4300km later he arrived in Port Hedland. It's suicidal to drive at night because the roads become the home of cattle and roo's. The longest/heaviest trains in Queensland run on the Goonyella coal system. 120 x 104 tonne wagons hauled by six 3800hp electrics using Locotrol III (3 on the point and 3 mid-train) They would be MUCH more interesting if the trains were diesel hauled Two Sugar Mills also run Locotrol trains on their 2 foot gauge systems. They are Bingera Mill near Bundaberg and Plane Creek Mill at Sarina. This is the Plane Creek slave train (as it is called by the workers) which I shot in September. A 3'6" gauge diesel hydraulic rebuild, 195 four tonne bins, another DH rebuild, 180 four tonne bins and a brake wagon on the rear. Approximately 1250 metres (4100') long and 1500 tonnes. Pretty damn impressive for 2 foot gauge! I have a few close-up shots of the locos and can post them if anyone is interested.Cheers, David.Edit: Forgot to mention that only the locos and brake wagon have brakes. The bins are basically a wire cage on wheels. Makes for interesting operations in hilly country
This is the Plane Creek slave train (as it is called by the workers) which I shot in September. A 3'6" gauge diesel hydraulic rebuild, 195 four tonne bins, another DH rebuild, 180 four tonne bins and a brake wagon on the rear. Approximately 1250 metres (4100') long and 1500 tonnes. Pretty damn impressive for 2 foot gauge! I have a few close-up shots of the locos and can post them if anyone is interested.Cheers,